Economic and financial viability of residue management: An application to the Texas High Plains Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Costs and benefits of no-tillage (NT) were analyzed and compared with conventional tillage (CT) for irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) in the northern Texas High Plains. Research results, from a 4-yr wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/corn/fallow rotation, were used to validate the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC), a widely used daily time-step hydrologic and crop growth simulator. The yields generated by EPIC were used in the Farm Level Income and Policy Simulation Model (FLIPSIM), to analyze the long-term (10 yr) economics of NT and CT corn production on a whole farm basis under various irrigation strategies. The results indicated that NT increased the probability of survival for the low water irrigated strategy while increasing net cash farm income by 8.5% on the more frequent irrigations strategy. NT resulted in higher present values of ending net worth for all irrigation strategies. NT's ability to reduce water needs, decrease yield variability, and reduce machinery use (fuel, replacement, and repair costs) more than offset the increase in chemical costs associated with NT compared with CT.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE

author list (cited authors)

  • Gray, A. W., Harman, W. L., Richardson, J. W., Wiese, A. F., Regier, G. C., Zimmel, P. T., & Lansford, V. D.

citation count

  • 6

complete list of authors

  • Gray, AW||Harman, WL||Richardson, JW||Wiese, AF||Regier, GC||Zimmel, PT||Lansford, VD

publication date

  • January 1997

publisher